MIGHT AS WELL BE OP Chapter 915: Punching Bag

In a flash, both figures vanished from the abyss as the chasm itself began to implode, unable to endure the chaotic violence unleashed by their clashing bodies. Space shuddered, reality becoming brittle under the pressure. A heartbeat later, they materialized above ground, their feet meeting the desert sand once more as grains scattered in a frantic burst, as if terrified by their sudden reappearance.

Even as they broke the surface, neither combatant offered the other a moment to breathe. No pause was taken; no hesitation existed. They dissolved into pure motion, their forms blurring into streaks of radiant gold and deep blue light that tore across the wasteland at speeds beyond comprehension. Sand erupted in their wake, and massive dunes collapsed like wet paper beneath the weight of invisible shockwaves.

Deep ravines carved themselves into the desert floor as the land groaned in silent agony. High above, the sun blazed with relentless heat, yet even its light seemed to falter, as if uncertain whether these two warriors would ever acknowledge its existence.

Aura Nova’s fingers lunged forward like a piercing spear, aimed directly at Kingsley’s golden eyes in an attempt to blind him. Kingsley, however, sidestepped to the right with effortless grace. He didn't just dodge; he counterattacked. Moving with fluid brutality, his golden gaze locked onto Aura Nova’s elbow as his palm surged upward from below, intending to shatter the joint completely.

Aura Nova, however, had already anticipated his move. She perceived the intent behind the strike the moment it began. Her arm snapped outward at a tactical angle, catching Kingsley’s palm and halting its momentum before it could inflict any damage. The impact vibrated through the air like a muffled clap of thunder. Kingsley instantly abandoned the failed strike, his other hand already blurring into a fist that whistled toward her lungs from the flank.

Aura Nova’s blue eyes tracked the incoming blow. She broke the engagement immediately, her footwork seamless and precise as her blue hair trailed behind her. The wind from his fist grazed her as she narrowly evaded the strike. In the same motion, her leg whipped upward, her heel driving toward Kingsley’s neck with lethal precision, enough to end the life of any Lesser Cultivator instantly.

Kingsley didn't even bother to retreat. He simply tilted his head with mocking ease, letting her foot miss by a hair's breadth. Aura Nova did not falter. She transitioned into her next move without a second of delay. As soon as her foot touched the desert floor, her other leg snapped out, her knee driving toward Kingsley’s midsection with bone-crushing power.

Kingsley’s palm moved like a flash of lightning, intercepting the knee mid-air. A circular shockwave of compressed air exploded from the point of contact, buffeting both of them, yet it was far too weak to move either warrior. Without missing a beat, Kingsley’s hand clamped onto Aura Nova’s leg. With a surge of brutal strength, he spun and slammed her down toward the desert floor.

For a fleeting second, Aura Nova lost her equilibrium. Her blue eyes watched the ground rush toward her at a breakneck pace. Even so, panic did not touch her. Her hand shot forward, striking the sand with a thunderous boom. The desert exploded upon impact, the sheer force of the blow halting her fall and saving her from a direct collision.

Without losing her rhythm, Aura Nova twisted the moment her descent stopped. Her free leg arced toward Kingsley’s ribs in a sharp, merciless strike. Kingsley raised his hand to block, but before they connected, Aura Nova shifted her trajectory mid-flight. The initial kick was a mere feint; her true target was Kingsley’s waist.

Kingsley was forced to release her other leg to defend himself. Yet, just as their limbs were set to collide, Aura Nova retracted her foot and flowed into a graceful backflip, putting distance between them in one smooth motion.

A heavy silence fell over the desert. Neither spoke, for words were useless baggage in a fight of this magnitude. For the first time since the battle commenced, a faint, hidden smile touched Kingsley’s lips. Slowly and with clear intent, he raised his hand and gestured for Aura Nova to come at him again.

Aura Nova’s own smile remained steadfast. She couldn't recall the last time she had felt such pure exhilaration. Having rarely ventured away from the Dusk Planet, she was finding this encounter immensely entertaining. With a spark of battle-lust in her eyes, she accepted his challenge. Her knees bent slightly, and then she launched herself like a falling star, her feet barely touching the sand as she flew forward.

Her fist drove toward Kingsley’s chest. The small smile on his face didn't waver as he sidestepped her casually, as if he were merely toyed with a child. Before Aura Nova could react, she felt a heavy pressure against her stomach. An instant later, a titanic impact exploded through her.

She suppressed the flare of pain instantly, refusing to let her momentum die as she lunged into her next strike. But Kingsley evaded again. This time, his elbow dropped from above, slamming into her shoulder with the precision of a master. To Aura Nova, it felt as though the weight of an entire star had crashed onto her. Before she could recover, Kingsley pressed his advantage, linking his strikes into a flawless combo. A fist blurred in from the left; Aura Nova raised her arms to guard, but it was useless. Kingsley shifted his angle mid-punch, and the blow landed with the devastating force of a comet.

Aura Nova struggled to mount a defense, but she was overwhelmed. She had been reduced to a mere punching bag. Kingsley showed no mercy, his gender-blind assault landing blow after blow while he effortlessly dodged every counter she attempted.

Kingsley was a true sovereign of martial arts. Perhaps only Anthony could claim to be his equal in such a discipline. For Aura Nova, trying to best Kingsley in hand-to-hand combat was nothing short of a suicidal endeavor.

She had received warnings. She had been told that Kingsley was the personification of martial perfection. But Aura Nova was not the type to believe rumors without proof. She had to witness it herself, and now, the evidence was undeniable.

A lightning-fast kick from Kingsley caught her jaw, snapping her head back violently. The sheer momentum dragged her whole body along, sending her hurtling through the air at high speeds. Her form crashed into a distant sand dune, triggering a massive explosion of dust that veiled everything in sight.

Then, the sound of footsteps broke the silence.

Out of the thick curtain of sand, Aura Nova walked calmly. Her face was pristine, without a single mark of injury. The sand clinging to her clothes fell away as if it were unworthy of touching her. Her smile remained wide as she looked at Kingsley. She wouldn't let a few successful hits dampen her spirits; if he couldn't do at least that much, he wouldn't be worthy of being her opponent.

With a single thought, her twin short swords appeared in her grip. She was not a martial artist by trade. These blades were the instruments of her true power.

As she settled into her sword stance, her aura transformed. The air grew razor-sharp and lethal, as if a great predator had finally bared its teeth. Detecting the shift, Kingsley immediately dropped into his own combat stance in response.

Then, as if moved by a singular command of fate, they charged once more, colliding with the force of thunder tearing through the heavens.